{"id":213620,"date":"2021-03-29T13:40:30","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T10:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/"},"modified":"2021-03-29T13:40:30","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T10:40:30","slug":"whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/","title":{"rendered":"#What\u2019s the Best Way to Buy a Vintage Computer?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3bf204dbc32\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3bf204dbc32\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#The_Catch_Many_Vintage_Computers_Need_Repair\" >The Catch: Many Vintage Computers Need Repair<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#How_to_Buy_a_Specific_Machine\" >How to Buy a Specific Machine<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#eBay\" >eBay<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#Social_Media\" >Social Media<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#Other_Auction_and_Sales_Sites\" >Other Auction and Sales Sites<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#If_You_Enjoy_the_Thrill_of_the_Hunt\" >If You Enjoy the Thrill of the Hunt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#What_Is_a_Vintage_Computer_Worth\" >What Is a Vintage Computer Worth?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/#A_Note_on_Shipping_Vintage_Computers\" >A Note on Shipping Vintage Computers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#What\u2019s the Best Way to Buy a Vintage Computer?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<!-- UNCACHED CONTENT --><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-719509 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/benj_edwards_mac_plus_hero_1.jpg?width=1200&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A Mac Plus on a Desk\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-credittext=\"Benj Edwards\" data-crediturl=\"http:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\">Benj Edwards<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As a hobby, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/\">vintage computing<\/a> is on the rise. A generation that grew up with classic PCs is looking back and revisiting the glory days of the \u201980s, \u201990s, and 2000s with the authentic machines. But what\u2019s the best way to get the hardware? We\u2019ll show you the options.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Catch_Many_Vintage_Computers_Need_Repair\"><\/span>The Catch: Many Vintage Computers Need Repair<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before we begin, there are some \u201cgotchas\u201d you should know about buying vintage computers. Unless a machine has been shown to be in working condition, don\u2019t buy it, because the older it is, the less likely it is to work as soon as you get it. That makes an \u201cas-is\u201d purchase risky for people who don\u2019t have the technical background to repair or recondition a vintage PC.<\/p>\n<p>Almost no PCs were designed with three-decade longevity in mind. As a result, these sensitive electronic devices include components that degrade over time. Here are some <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-preserve-vintage-electronics\">frequent problems that pop up<\/a> with vintage PCs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Plastics discolor or become brittle<\/li>\n<li>Rubber components or cables degrade and get goopy<\/li>\n<li>Capacitors change value and leak<\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/600\/i-hate-it-when-this-happens\">Batteries leak<\/a> and destroy circuitry<\/li>\n<li>Metals corrode or get infested with pests from poor storage conditions<\/li>\n<li>Magnetic <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> (disks) can go bad or get moldy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Where the computer has been sitting for the past decade plays a huge role in whether or not it can still work today. Extremes in temperature and humidity accelerate chemical changes in computer parts. If it\u2019s been in a hot attic, a cold shed, or a humid basement, the odds are fairly high that there will be some significant environmental damages. Mold and corrosion are common. But if it\u2019s been sitting on a shelf in someone\u2019s climate-controlled home, it\u2019s much more likely to work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Clean Old, Yellowed Plastic on Retro Computers and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Game<\/a> Systems<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-719595 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/battery_leak_htg.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A clock battery leaking in a Mac IIsi.\" width=\"650\" height=\"355\" data-credittext=\"Benj Edwards\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Benj Edwards<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hackaday.com\/2019\/04\/12\/ask-hackaday-experiences-with-capacitor-failure\/\">Capacitor rot,<\/a> in particular, is a problem with all vintage electronics. Older capacitors often either change capacitance (which affects how the electronic circuit works) or fail completely and leak electrolytic fluid that can damage the circuitry. Certain era machines, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a>le Macintoshes from the late 1980s and early 1990s, almost always need to have their capacitors replaced with new ones (in a process called \u201crecapping\u201d) to work properly these days.<\/p>\n<p>If you have the spare cash, look for a machine that has been cleaned and reconditioned by a reputable vintage computer seller. Keep an eye out for the term \u201crecapped\u201d in particular. Not all machines need recapping, but if it\u2019s done by a skilled technician, it can\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n<p>Refurbishing is important for novice buyers, because even if a computer is in working condition now, its vintage parts will continue to degrade over time, so it might not be working in a year even if you just set it on a shelf and leave it alone. If someone fixes the problematic components, you \u201creset the clock,\u201d so to speak, and push potential age problems further down the road.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Buy_a_Specific_Machine\"><\/span>How to Buy a Specific Machine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-719611 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/benj_edwards_atari_800.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Atari 800 on a sunset background by Benj Edwards.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-credittext=\"Benj Edwards\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Benj Edwards<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Luckily, buying a vintage computer is not all doom and gloom! There\u2019s a lot of fun in the hobby as well. If you know exactly what you want and you\u2019re willing to pay for it, it\u2019s hard to go wrong with these options. We\u2019ll start with the best way first.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"eBay\"><\/span>eBay<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to buy a specific model of vintage PC\u2014such as an Atari 800, Mac Plus, or heck, even an obscure Compaq Presario\u2014and you\u2019re willing to pay for the convenience of getting the exact item you want shipped to your address, it\u2019s hard to go wrong with eBay.<\/p>\n<p>eBay has a specific <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/b\/Vintage-Computers-Parts-Accessories\/11189\/bn_1637394\">Vintage Computers category<\/a>\u00a0that you can browse. Or, alternately, you can just search for exactly what you want in the search bar at the top of the page.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-719597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/browsing_ebay_mac_plus.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Searching eBay for vintage computers.\" width=\"650\" height=\"438\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>eBay is not a cheap way to get vintage machines, but it is often the quickest, since you\u2019re more likely to find exactly what you want listed (unless what you want <em>is<\/em> very rare). You can also shop for a vendor with a reputation for cleaning, restoring, and shipping the machines properly. This is very important to find if you don\u2019t plan on fixing an old computer yourself.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Social_Media\"><\/span>Social Media<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You can also try looking for a specific machine on social media. If you find a group of like-minded vintage computer fans, you can ask around and see if anyone is willing to sell the machine you\u2019d like to buy.<\/p>\n<p>On Reddit, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/retrobattlestations\/\">Retro Battlestations<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/vintagecomputing\/\">Vintage Computing<\/a> are both popular groups. On Facebook, there are a fair number of vintage computer groups like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/vintagecomputerswapmeet\/\">Vintage \/ Retro Computer Swap Meet<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/VintageComputersForSale\/\">Vintage Computers for Sale<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Auction_and_Sales_Sites\"><\/span>Other Auction and Sales Sites<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are websites other than eBay that allow you to search for a specific model of computer. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shopgoodwill.com\">ShopGoodwill.com<\/a> sells items gathered from a popular chain of American thrift stores, and there may be equivalents in other countries.<\/p>\n<p>Hardcore Japanese computer collectors often visit <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/auctions.yahoo.co.jp\/\">Yahoo Japan Auctions<\/a>, but you\u2019ll really need to know what you\u2019re doing to shop there, as many sellers won\u2019t ship overseas. In those cases, you\u2019ll need a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=+shipping+proxy+service\">local shipping proxy<\/a> in the country who will receive the item and then mail it to you.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_You_Enjoy_the_Thrill_of_the_Hunt\"><\/span>If You Enjoy the Thrill of the Hunt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re willing to play the long game and enjoy hunting for vintage machines with the hope of possibly finding exactly what you want \u201cout in the wild\u201d\u2014or if you\u2019re just content to explore whatever vintage tech comes your way\u2014these are the solutions for you.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ask family, friends, and neighbors:<\/strong> Put the word out that you\u2019re collecting old computers, and people will likely give you old machines that they no longer use for free. Best of all, they\u2019re often local, so you can just pick them up quickly. People are often grateful if you take an old machine in and get some use out of it so that they don\u2019t have to throw it out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flea markets:<\/strong> Many cities have flea markets that operate on weekends. Your luck here will vary wildly, and you\u2019re also more likely to find items in worse condition than is ideal, but the price is almost always good\u2014unless it\u2019s from an established dealer that sells warmed-over, decade-old used computers, many of which come from old-school surplus.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hamfests:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/204\/my-2006-hamfest-adventure\">Hamfests<\/a> are local conventions of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amateur_radio\">amateur radio operators<\/a> (known as \u201chams\u201d), and they almost always include some kind of swap meet or flea market. Due to the technical nature of the people there, you\u2019re very likely to find old computers and other amazing old gadgets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-719608 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/vintage_computers_at_a_hamfest.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A photo of a hamfest in 2006 by Benj Edwards.\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" data-credittext=\"Benj Edwards\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Benj Edwards<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Thrift stores:<\/strong> Thrift stores <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly accept donations from the public and then sell the items, donating the proceeds to charity. You\u2019ll often find nicer, higher-end items in more affluent parts of town, but you might find older, cooler stuff in the older parts of town.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Government or University Surplus Sales:<\/strong> In America, local governments often sell their surplus electronics items on a regular basis for a very reasonable price. The same goes for universities, which often need to discard older computer equipment when upgrading. It\u2019s not unusual to find a decommissioned server that once cost $20,000 15 years ago on sale for $10.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Yard or Garage Sales:<\/strong> These commonly take place on weekends in the U.S., when families attempt to sell stuff that they no longer need. You might be able to find a computer or two in there, but this can be a long shot depending on where the houses are located. Your odds of getting a good deal at one are very high, though.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Online Classified Sites Like Craigslist:<\/strong> If you live in an area with lots of high-tech jobs (like the Bay Area or a big city), you\u2019re much more likely to find vintage computers advertised in your <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.craigslist.org\">local Craigslist<\/a>\u00a0listings. You\u2019ll also find people who want way too much\u00a0cash for their old hardware, so be sure to cross-check completed auction prices on eBay before buying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Vintage_Computer_Worth\"><\/span>What Is a Vintage Computer Worth?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a computer from any source, you might wonder whether you\u2019re paying a fair price.\u00a0 In this case, the best thing to do is to search eBay\u2019s sold auctions for a similar model and see how much those computers have actually sold for in the past.<\/p>\n<p>To price-check on the eBay website, perform a search, then check \u201cSold Items\u201d in the sidebar. On the eBay mobile app, do a search, then tap Filter &gt; Show More and turn on \u201cSold Items.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-719777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ebay_check_sold_items.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Searching eBay for Sold Items\" width=\"650\" height=\"234\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to look at \u201cSold Items\u201d and not just \u201cCompleted Items\u201d because \u201cCompleted Items\u201d also returns auctions that ended with ridiculously high unsold prices that no one was willing to pay.<\/p>\n<p>Also, keep in mind that eBay is generally considered to be a top-dollar premium market due to its convenience. If you\u2019re seeing similar prices in person (like at a flea market), they\u2019re probably too high.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Note_on_Shipping_Vintage_Computers\"><\/span>A Note on Shipping Vintage Computers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Amazon\u2019s \u201cfree\u201d two-day shipping has us all spoiled. Safe packing takes skill and reliable shipping costs money. Avoid the urge to go cheap on shipping and insurance. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n<p>Vintage computers frequently get damaged in shipping. That\u2019s because old PCs are often bulky, heavy, or fragile, and the seller has often not had much experience shipping fragile items safely. In particular, placing heavy items into boxes with smaller, more fragile items often causes damage, and degraded plastics can crack in transit under stress.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-719775 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ibm_shipping_damage.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Shipping damage to an IBM PC monitor.\" width=\"650\" height=\"468\" data-credittext=\"Benj Edwards\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It\u2019s easy for brittle vintage plastics to get damaged in shipping. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Benj Edwards<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The best way to avoid shipping damage is to ask the seller if they\u2019re willing to take the computer to a UPS Store (or another professional shipping store) to have the unit packed and shipped. Tell them you will gladly pay extra for the privilege. Don\u2019t be surprised if it costs over $100 to ship a large machine across the country using this method. If you want a rare computer to arrive in one piece, the cost is worth it.<\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s a tip about shipping insurance: We\u2019ve heard from employees at shipping stores that if you insure a package for any amount, the package often gets special treatment on the way to the destination because the handlers can be personally held liable if something gets broken. Of course, for high-value items, it\u2019s almost always a good idea to insure them for the full price anyway.<\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s some good <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>: According to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/help\/policies\/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy\/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210\">eBay\u2019s Money Back Guarantee policy<\/a>, if your item gets damaged in transit, you are entitled to get your money back\u2014and the seller is on the hook for the loss. So, at least with eBay, you have that extra layer of protection in case something goes wrong. But no money-back guarantee will bring back a priceless piece of computing history once it\u2019s broken, so urge the seller to take great care in packing and shipping it to begin with.<\/p>\n<p>Happy hunting!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/719443\/whats-the-best-way-to-buy-a-vintage-computer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#What\u2019s the Best Way to Buy a Vintage Computer?&#8221; Benj Edwards As a hobby, vintage computing is on the rise. A generation that grew up with classic PCs is looking back and revisiting the glory days of the \u201980s, \u201990s, and 2000s with the authentic machines. But what\u2019s the best way to get the hardware?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":213621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/benj_edwards_mac_plus_hero_1.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-213620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213620\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}